Windshield washer machine

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to a washing machine especially adapted to substantially clean a vehicle window such as a vehicle&#39;s windscreen. In a preferred embodiment the washing machine is a windscreen washing machine. The washing machine comprises a power supply, a cleaning fluid supply, and a reciprocating squeegee tool. The reciprocating squeegee tool comprises a reciprocating means, a squeegee head, and a spraying means. The squeegee head is connected to the reciprocating means that induces a reciprocating action in the squeegee head such that the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between a first position and a second position. The spraying means is connected to the cleaning fluid supply and located proximate to the squeegee head thereby allowing the spraying means to spray cleaning fluid in an area proximate to the squeegee head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to window washers. More specifically, theinvention is a windshield washer incorporating a reciprocating squeegeehead for cleaning a vehicle's windshield.

2. Description of the Related Art

Vehicles are used, for example, as a personal form of transportation andto haul goods. Vehicles are exposed to various driving conditions andoften get dirty. Windshields are particularly susceptible to gettingdirty and thence detrimentally impact on driver visibility. It isimportant to maintain good visibility through a vehicle's windshield toavoid unnecessary risk to the driver, his passengers and other roadusers.

Cleaning a vehicle's windshield can present challenges. For example, awindshield covered with insect remains presents a challenge. Inaddition, some vehicle operators experience difficulty performingphysical tasks such as cleaning a windshield. For example, people withtroublesome arthritis may find it particularly hard to clean a dirtywindshield. A healthy driver can also face difficulties when cleaning awindshield spattered with hardened and dried out insect remains. Thus,there is a need for an apparatus adapted to assist a vehicle operator inthe task of cleaning a vehicle's windshield.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,491, issued May 16, 2000 to Hahn et al, describes acleaning device for a window and headlamp cover of a motor vehicle. The'491 device has two washer nozzles that produce strip-shaped sprayingregions on the window or headlamp cover. The '491 spraying regions arearranged one above the other to cover a large region of the window orheadlamp cover. The '491 device does not provide a reciprocatingcleaning action to boost the removal of insect remains from awindshield.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,363,528, issued Nov. 15, 1994 to R. D. Brock, describesa window washing tool that comprises a squeegee head having a body, anelongated handle attached to the squeegee body, a pair of opposed wipingbars, and a means to move the wiping bars between a retracted positionand a forward extended position. The '528 device does not teach orsuggest a rigorous reciprocating action to remove hardened insectremains from a vehicle's windshield.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,592, issued Jan. 4, 2000 to E. Habba, describes alinearly reciprocating wiper apparatus for wiping a non-planar window.The '592 apparatus comprises a first and second track members and adrive wheel assembly that includes at least one motorized drive wheelwhich engages the tracks. In view of the requirement for tracks and amotorized drive wheel system the '592 device is dedicated to cleaning awindow in close proximity to the tracks. Thus, the '592 apparatus cannotbe used, for example, to clean a line of cars with dirty windshields.Thus, there is a need for an apparatus that can clean windows, such aswindshields or rear windows, on different cars.

European patent application number EPO0074600, published Mar. 23, 1983to B. Herbert, describes a flatbed-printing machine comprising areciprocating doctor blade arrangement. While the Herbert patentdescribes a reciprocating doctor blade there is no teaching orsuggestion of combining the reciprocating doctor blade with a cleaningfluid suitable for cleaning a windshield. Instead, the Herbert patentteaches away from the present invention by exploiting the reciprocatingdoctor blade for making it possible for a sheet to be printed onvirtually up to the edge of the sheet and for excellent register to beguaranteed even for larger printing formats.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thusa windshield washer machine solving the aforementioned problems isdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a washing machine especiallyadapted to substantially clean a vehicle window such as a vehicle'swindscreen. In a preferred embodiment the washing machine is awindscreen washing machine. The washing machine comprises a powersupply, a cleaning fluid supply, and a reciprocating squeegee tool. Thereciprocating squeegee tool comprises a reciprocating means, a squeegeehead, and a spraying means. The squeegee head is connected to thereciprocating means that induces a reciprocating action in the squeegeehead wherein the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between a firstposition and a second position. The spraying means is connected to thecleaning fluid supply and located proximate to the squeegee head therebyallowing the spraying means to spray cleaning fluid in an area proximateto the squeegee head.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide awashing machine adapted to clean a vehicle.

It is another object of the invention to provide a windscreen washingmachine.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a windscreen washingmachine that operates for a predetermined time period.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a windshield washermachine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a reciprocating squeegee tool accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 2B is an exploded view of the reciprocating squeegee tool of FIG.2A.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of a money-operated cleaningstation.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a control system used to operate themoney-operated cleaning station of FIG. 3.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to window washers. More specifically,the invention is a windshield washer incorporating a reciprocatingsqueegee head for cleaning a vehicle's windshield.

FIG. 1 shows an environmental, perspective view of a first embodiment ofa windshield washer machine 100 according to the invention. In oneembodiment of the invention, the windshield washer machine 100 comprisesa reciprocating squeegee tool 120, a power supply line 140, such as are-coiling power line, to supply power to the reciprocating squeegeetool 120, cleaning fluid delivery tubing 160, and a money operatedcleaning station 180 in operable communication with the reciprocatingsqueegee tool 120. The cleaning station 180 comprises at least onehousing 183 and a money-receiving member 188. It should be understoodthat the cleaning station 180 may comprise of a single housing or ahousing subdivided into sections such as the at least one housing 183and an additional housing 186.

As used herein, it will be understood that the money-receiving member188 is preferably adapted to receive coins. Alternatively, themoney-receiving member 188 is adapted to handle paper currency such asAmerican dollar bills and European paper money. The money-receivingmember 188 can also be adapted to handle, for example, credit cards,debit cards, and tokens. Money-receiving members in the form of papercurrency and coin receiving mechanisms that can calculate and dispensechange are well known; vendors of money receiving members are found, forexample, in trade journals, in yellow pages, and on the world wide web,e.g., at URL: http://www.refurbishedvending.com/bill_validators.html.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a vehicle operator 200 is shown using thereciprocating squeegee tool 120 to clean a vehicle 205 and moreparticularly the vehicle's windshield 220. The windshield washer machine100 is adapted to enable a vehicle operator 200 to thoroughly clean avehicle's windows such as a windshield 220 though the device 100 couldalso be used to clean, for example, a vehicle's rear window and lightssuch as a vehicle's signal lights 240, headlights 260, and the vehiclesside-windows 265.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively a perspective and an exploded view of areciprocating squeegee tool 120 according to the present invention. Thereciprocating squeegee tool 120 comprises a handle 270 defining ahousing 280 having a first 300 and second 320 opposite ends, and amechanical reciprocator 340 located in the housing 280. Thereciprocating squeegee tool 120 further comprises a hollow elongatedshaft 380 having a proximal end 400 and a distal end 420, wherein theproximal end 400 is connected to the second opposite end 320 of thehousing 280. A section of the cleaning fluid delivery tube 160 iswrapped around the shaft 380 and terminating in a sprayer member 560.

The reciprocating squeegee tool 120 still further comprises a squeegeehead 440 defining a rod connector 460. An elongated rod 480 withopposite ends 500 and 520 is located inside the hollow elongated shaft380, wherein opposite end 500 is adapted to operably connect to themechanical reciprocator 340 and the other opposite end 520 is adapted toconnect to the rod connector 460 of the squeegee head 440. One end 540of the cleaning fluid delivery tube 160 terminates in the sprayer member560. The sprayer member 560 comprises a hollow shaft 565 thataccommodates the tube end 540. The tube end 540 may be located insidethe shaft 560 or extend therefrom as shown in FIG. 2A. It should beunderstood that the sprayer member 560 might take any suitable form suchas a spray nozzle connected to the tube end 540.

Still referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the mechanical reciprocator 340comprises an electric motor 345 that is energized by a power supply 660(see below). The motor 345 may receive power via a re-coiling power linesuch as a 14-gauge re-coiling power line. However, the mechanicalreciprocator 340 may be powered by a compressed air supply.

In normal operation cleaning fluid 600 is directed along the deliverytube 160 to the sprayer member 560 and sprayed on an area 215 ofwindshield 220 proximate to the squeegee head 440. The spray member 560may also spray cleaning fluid onto the squeegee head 440.

In more detail, the mechanical reciprocator 340 induces a reciprocatingaction in the squeegee head 440 such that the squeegee head 440 isrepeatedly moved between a first position 442 and a second position 444.The induced movement in the squeegee head 440 combined with the cleaningfluid sprayed from the spray member 560 collectively cleans a vehicle'swindshield 220. It should be understood that the reciprocating squeegeetool 120 could be used to clean any vehicle window such as a vehicle'sside 265 and rear windows. In addition, the reciprocating squeegee tool120 can be used to clean other parts of a vehicle such as, but notlimited to, side mirrors, lights, body surfaces such as car doorsurfaces, and wheels.

The reciprocating action provided by the mechanical reciprocator 340 iswell understood and described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,211issued Jul. 24, 2001 to R. Granado. U.S. Pat. No. 6,264,211 is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety. The handle 270, whichincludes the mechanical reciprocator 340, is available from vendors onthe World Wide Web such as Makita Industrial Power Tools (e.g., see URL:http://www.toolpeddler.com/4390d.htm).

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded view of the money operated cleaningstation 180. The cleaning station 180 comprises housings 183 and 186,and a money-receiving member 188. The housings 183 and 186 can becombined in a single housing; alternatively, the housings 183 and 186,and the money-receiving member 188 can be combined in a single housing.

Still referring to FIG. 3, a cleaning fluid container 580 is locatedinside housing 183. The container 580 is used to store a body ofcleaning fluid 600; the container 580 can be of any suitable volume suchas a 55-gallon cleaning fluid drum. A hose 620 carries the cleaningfluid 600 to a pump 640 (see FIG. 4) located in housing 186.

FIG. 4 shows an interior view of the housing 186. A power supply 660 isconnected to the pump 640 and the reciprocating squeegee tool 120 viathe power supply line 140. The pump 640 pumps cleaning fluid 600 up hose620 and thence along cleaning the fluid delivery tubing 160 in responseto power supplied by the power supply 660 to the pump 640. A timer 680is connected to the money-receiving member 188 via line 700, and to thepower supply 660 via control line 720. The timer 680 is configured toallow the power supply 660 to deliver power to the reciprocating means340 and the pump 640 for a predetermined time in response to apredetermined amount of money deposited in the money-receiving member188. The predetermined time can be set to any suitable duration of time.The predetermined time is preferably set to allow sufficient time for anaverage vehicle operator 200 to clean a vehicle's window such as awindshield 220, but preferably not sufficient time to allow the averagevehicle operator to clean an entire vehicle 205 to decrease wear andtear on the reciprocating squeegee tool 120. The predetermined timecould be based on the amount of money deposited thereby offering thevehicle operator 200 a range of power-on times to enable the operator200 to clean the windshield 220 and other parts of the vehicle 205 suchas the vehicle's side windows 265.

It should be understood that the power supply 660 might be configured ina multitude of ways without detracting from the spirit of the presentinvention. For example, the power supply 660 provides an electriccurrent at a voltage suitable to energize the motor 345. The powersupply 660 might be configured to output alternating current (AC) ordirect current (DC). The power supply 660 might be adapted to step downa mains input voltage and thereby supply a lower AC voltage to the motor345. Alternatively, the power supply 660 might be adapted to convertmains AC into low voltage DC and thereby supply a low voltage DC to themotor 345. In another configuration the power supply 660 might onlysupply power to the motor 345, wherein the pump 640 is configured toaccept power directly from the AC mains and further wherein the timer680 is configured to directly cut or allow power to the pump 640. Thus,the exact arrangement of the power supply 660, timer 680, and the pump640 may vary considerably without detracting from the spirit of thepresent invention.

If the output from the power supply is AC it is important that the motor345 is rated to handle AC. Alternatively, the power supply 660 couldoutput DC in which case it is important that the motor 345 is rated tohandle DC. Alternatively, the power supply 660 may take the form of aninternal battery inside the handle 270.

In a further embodiment of the present invention a method is provided toclean a vehicle window, comprising the step of cleaning a vehicle windowusing a reciprocating means attached to a squeegee head. Thereciprocating means is adapted to be driven by an electric current or bypressurized air delivered from a reservoir of compressed air. In thismethod a cleaning fluid might also be applied to the vehicle window suchas the vehicle's windscreen. Alternatively, the cleaning fluid may beapplied to the squeegee head or window.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A reciprocating squeegee tool comprising: a handle having a housingwith a first and second opposite ends; a mechanical reciprocator locatedin the handle; a hollow elongated shaft having a proximal and distalend, wherein the proximal end is connected to the second opposite end ofthe housing; a squeegee head defining a rod connector; an elongated rodwith opposite ends located inside the hollow elongated shaft, whereinone opposite end of the rod is operably connected to the mechanicalreciprocator and the remaining opposite end of the rod is connected tothe rod connector of the squeegee head; and a cleaning fluid deliverytube with opposite ends, one end connected to a sprayer member.
 2. Thereciprocating squeegee tool according to claim 1, wherein the deliverytube directs cleaning fluid to the sprayer member for spraying thecleaning fluid on an area of windshield proximate to the squeegee head,and wherein the reciprocator induces a reciprocating action in thesqueegee head such that the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between afirst position and a second position so that the induced movement in thesqueegee head combined with the cleaning fluid spray can be applied toclean a vehicle's windshield.
 3. The reciprocating squeegee toolaccording to claim 1 in combination with a power supply to drive themechanical reciprocator.
 4. The reciprocating squeegee tool according toclaim 1 in combination with a power supply to drive the mechanicalreciprocator and a cleaning fluid supply, wherein the cleaning fluidsupply is connected to the delivery tube, and wherein the cleaning fluidsupply comprises a pump to direct cleaning fluid to the cleaning fluiddelivery tube and thence to the spraying member.
 5. A window washermachine especially adapted to substantially clean a vehicle window,comprising: a means for supplying cleaning fluid, wherein the means forsupplying cleaning fluid; and a reciprocating squeegee tool having areciprocating means, a squeegee head, and a spraying means, wherein thesqueegee head is connected to the reciprocating means which induces areciprocating action in the squeegee head such that the squeegee head isrepeatedly moved between a first position and a second position, whereinthe spraying means is connected to the cleaning fluid supply and locatedproximate to the squeegee head thereby allowing the spraying means tospray cleaning fluid in an area proximate to the squeegee head, wherebythe reciprocating action induced in the squeegee head combined with thespray of cleaning fluid renders the window washer especially adapted tosubstantially clean a vehicle window including a vehicle windowsplattered with insect remains.
 6. The window washer machine accordingto claim 5 further comprising a timer and a money-receiving means. 7.The window washer machine according to claim 5 further comprising atimer and a money-receiving means, wherein the timer is configured toallow a power supply to deliver power to the reciprocating means for apredetermined time in response to a predetermined amount of moneydeposited in the money-receiving means.
 8. The window washer machineaccording to claim 5 further comprising a timer and a money-receivingmeans, wherein the means for supplying cleaning fluid comprises a pump,further wherein the timer is configured to allow a power supply todeliver power to the pump and the reciprocating means for apredetermined time in response to a predetermined amount of moneydeposited in the money-receiving means, and wherein the predeterminedtime is set to allow sufficient time for an average vehicle operator toclean a vehicle's window such as a windshield, but not sufficient timeto allow the average vehicle operator to clean an entire vehicle.
 9. Thewindow washer machine according to claim 5, wherein the means forsupplying cleaning fluid comprises a 55-gallon cleaning fluid drum. 10.The window washer machine according to claim 5, wherein the power meansis connected to the reciprocating means via a re-coiling power line. 11.The window washer machine according to claim 5, wherein the power meansis connected to the reciprocating means via a 14-gauge re-coiling powerline.
 12. The window washer machine according to claim 5, wherein themeans for supplying cleaning fluid further comprises a re-coilingcleaning fluid hose that connects a container to the spraying means. 13.The window washer machine according to claim 5, wherein the means forsupplying cleaning fluid further comprises a re-coiling cleaning fluidhose that connects a container to the spraying means, wherein thecontainer is a drum capable of holding about 55 gallons of cleaningfluid.
 14. A window washer machine especially adapted to substantiallyclean a vehicle windscreen, comprising: a power supply; a container forstoring cleaning fluid; a set of cleaning fluid tubing; a pump energizedby the power supply and operably connected to the container via thecleaning fluid tubing; a reciprocating squeegee tool having areciprocating means, a squeegee head, and a spraying means, wherein thereciprocating means is energized by the power supply, wherein thesqueegee head is connected to the reciprocating means, wherein thereciprocating means is adapted to apply a reciprocating action to thesqueegee head whereupon the squeegee head is repeatedly moved between afirst position and a second position, wherein the spraying means isconnected to the container via the cleaning fluid tubing, wherein thespraying means is located proximate to the squeegee head to spraycleaning fluid in an area proximate to the squeegee head; and amoney-receiving means operably connected to a timer, wherein themoney-receiving means is adapted to count an amount of money and inresponse to a receiving a predetermined amount of money sends anon-signal to the timer such that the timer is switched on for apredetermined amount of time, wherein the timer is operably connected tothe power supply, wherein the power supply operates in response to anon-signal from the timer such that when the power supply is on power isdelivered to the pump and the reciprocating means for a predeterminedamount of time such that during the predetermined time the pump pumpscleaning fluid from the container to the spraying means via the cleaningdelivering tubing and power runs to the reciprocating means, whereby thereciprocating action induced in the squeegee head combined with thespray of cleaning fluid renders the window washer especially adapted tosubstantially clean a vehicle windshield.
 15. The window washer machineaccording to claim 14, wherein the pump, timer, and power supply arelocated in a housing.
 16. The window washer machine according to claim14, wherein the pump, timer, power supply, and container are located inat least one housing.
 17. A method of cleaning a vehicle window,comprising the step of cleaning a vehicle window using a reciprocatingmeans attached to a squeegee head.
 18. The method of cleaning a vehiclewindow according to claim 17 further comprising the step of applying acleaning fluid to the vehicle window, wherein the vehicle window is awindshield.
 19. The method of cleaning a vehicle window according toclaim 17 further comprising the step of spraying a cleaning fluid on tothe squeegee head or the vehicle window.